MANUAL  OF  PRACTICE 
FOR  USE  IN 

DEPOSIT  STATION  LIBRARIES 

AND 

BRANCH  LIBRARIES 


PREPARED  BY 


CARNEGIE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

GARFIELD  COUNTY  LIBRARY 
EXTENSION  DEPARTMENT 
ENID,  OKLAHOMA 


JUNE,  1922 


ENID  EVENTS  ENID,  OKLA. 


There  is  no  frigate  like  a book 
To  take  you  leagues  away, 

Nor  any  courser  like  a page 
Of  prancing  poetry. 

This  solace,  may  the  poorest  take 
Without  oppress  or  toll, 

How  frugal  is  the  chariot 

That  drives  the  human  soul! 


MANUAL  OF  PRACTICE 


3 


CARNEGIE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  j 

ENID,  OKLAIIONA  | 

j GARFIELD  COUNTY  LIBRARY  EXTENSION  DEPARTMENT 

LIBRARY  SERVICE  TO  SCHOOL  AND  COMMUNITY  J 

It  is  the  aim  of  the  Carnegie  Public  Library  of  Enid  through  l 
! branches,  community  centers,  school  deposit  stations  and  other  = 

| agencies  of  the  County  Library  Extension  Department  to  make  books  S 
[ accessible  to  every  individual  in  Garfield  County,  and  to  give  train-  J 
J ing  in  method  and  management  to  volunteer  custodians  of  such  | 
| libraries.  j 

Every  person  of  reading  age  may  have  one  or  two  books  (depend-  ? 

I ing  on  kind  of  book)  every  two  weeks.  Books  may  be  renewed  for  I 

! two  weeks  by  telephone  or  by  mail.  I 

Every  school  in  Garfield  County  may  have  fifteen  books  every  jj 
j sixty  days.  Schools  having  four  teachers  and  upwards  may  have  [ 
§ fifty  books.  Books  may  be  renewed  by  telephone  or  by  mail. 

Every  town  and  community  in  Garfield  County  may  have  100  ■ 

| books  every  sixty  days.  Books  may  be  renewed  by  telephone  or  mail.  ! 

As  the  system  grows,  the  goal  to  be  reached  is  a library  deposit  ! 
! in  every  school  and  community,  and  a branch  library  in  every  town  | 
! in  the  county  in  charge  of  a competent  librarian  and  having  its  own  ( 

1 local  library  board,  to  advise  with  the  central  library  board.  j 

COST.  \ 

Books  are  loaned  free  of  charge.  Transportation  charges  are  | 

2 paid  one  way  whether  books  are  sent  singly  or  in  groups. 

Custodians  may  prepay  return  transportation  charges  with  fines  ! 
collected  on  overdue  books,  but  if  a book  is  lost  and  paid  for  the  [ 
! money  must  be  sent  to  the  central  library  for  the  purchase  of  a new  | 

! book.  j 

A fine  of  two  cents  per  day  is  charged  on  all  books  kept  over-  | 
time,  unless  an  extension  of  time  has  been  granted. 

Application  cards  will  be  mailed  free  to  individuals  in  the  \ 
( county,  and  their  book  requests  sent  by  parcel  post  prepaid. 

Custodians  are  encouraged  to  send  to  the  central  lilbrary  for  ! 

1 books  requested  by  their  patrons. 

Books  may  be  selected  in  person  by  individuals,  teachers,  and  \ 

2 custodians.  § 

j REGISTRATION  ( 

Application  cards  are  filed  in  one  straight  alphabetical  file  at  the  2 
! central  library  for  county  and  city  borrowers.  County  applications  = 

I at  the  central  library  are  written  in  red  ink  as  a mark  of  distinction.  S 

i 


4 


COUNTY  LIBRARY  EXTENSION 


Application  cards  at  central  library  or  branches  must  be  signed 
! by  a property  owner  not  related  to  the  applicant. 

A teacher’s  application  card  for  a school  library  must  be  signed 
| by  a school  trustee. 

j A custodian’s  application  card  for  a community  center  library 

j must  be  signed  by  the  secretary  of  the  club  or  organization  sponsor- 
| ing  the  library. 

Branches  attend  to  their  own  registration  record. 


i 

\¥ 

\ 


BORROWERS’  CARDS 


Borrowers’  cards  must  be  used  at  the  central  library,  also  at  the 
! branches,  but  are  not  required  for  checking  out  books  from  the  school 
I and  community  deposit  stations. 


ADVERTISING 


When  a teacher,  school  board,  club  president  or  community 
I worker  sends  (or  brings)  in  an  application  card  properly  signed,  it  is 
} understood  that  the  books  sent  will  be  made  available  to  the  pat- 
S rons  in  the  district  as  well  as  to  the  pupils  of  the  school  or  mem- 
| bers  of  the  club  organization. 

Every  custodian  is  asked  to  post  a LIBRARY  SIGN  in  a con- 
= spicuous  place  stating  hours  of  opening  and  the  rules  governing  the 
; book  circulation.  When  a library  is  sent  to  some  place  other  than  a 
! school  the  custodian  is  requested  to  see  that  the  principal  of  the  local 
I school  is  notified  also  that  the  nearest  newspapers  make  announce- 
| ments  of  the  free  library  service. 

DISTINCTION  BETWEEN  BRANCHES,  STATIONS, 

AND  OTHER  AGENCIES 


BRANCH — Auxiliary  library,  complete  in  itself,  having  its  own  ' 
permanent  collection  of  books,  either  occupying  a separate  building  ! 
or  housed  in  one  or  more  rooms  in  a school,  social  center,  rented  I 
store,  postoffice,  etc.,  and  administered  as  an  integral  part  of  the  $ 
library  system.  To  rank  as  a branch  the  hours  of  opening  need  not  i 
approximate  those  of  the  central  library,  but  must  conform  to  a regu-  | 
lar  schedule.  | 

DEPOSIT  STATION — Small  collection  of  books  sent  for  a defi-  j 
nite  time  to  a school,  club,  postoffice,  store,  home,  etc.  Collections  | 
are  frequently  changed;  stations  have  some  permanency. 

Branches  or  stations  may  be  in  charge  of  a volunteer  librarian 
(called  custodian)  or  a paid  librarian  employed  at  the  expense  of  a ! 
cc-operating  institution  or  society. 

OTHER  AGENCIES — Loans  made  at  the  central  library  or  re-  ! 
quests  by  mail  or  messenger. 


MANUAL  OF  PRACTICE 


5' 


BOOK  COLLECTION  \ 

Permanent  collection  in  branches  frequently  supplemented  by  ! 
r loans  of  newer  books  from  the  central  library.  j 

School  and  community  center  deposit  stations  supplied  from  \ 
| separate  county  collection  in  central  library.  j 

Equal  desk  service  to  city  and  county  from  central  library  j 
| collection. 

| Special  requests  or  needs  provided  for  by  temporary  loans  from  ! 

j central  or  county  library  collection. 

j CATALOUGE 

A separate  card  catalogue  lists  all  books  in  the  county  collection,  j 
{ This  catalogue  is  kept  in  the  county  library  room  at  the  central  2 
i library.  | 

| Branches  have  card  catalogues  of  books  in  permanent  collection.  I 

jj  ACCESSION  RECORD  (County  Collection) 

Typewritten  on  3x5  cards  and  kept  at  central  library.  Continu-  j 
I ous  numbers  obtained  by  the  use  of  a numbering  machine,  with  a 
j statistical  sheet  record  of  additions  and  withdrawals. 

} SHELF  LIST 

Typewritten  on  3x5  cards.  County  collection  kept  at  central  j 
| library  in  separate  file.  For  permanent  collections  in  branches  a du-  » 
I plicate  shelf  list  card  is  supplied  for  each  new  book  added  to  a par-  \ 
j ticular  branch.  This  is  filed  at  the  branch  in  shelf  list  order. 

CHARGING  RECORDS 

POCKETS — Each  book  to  be  circulated  is  provided  with  a book  j 
J pocket. 

DATE  SLIPS — The  “Date  Due”  slip  is  pasted  on  the  fly  leaf,  : 

{ opposite  the  pocket. 

| BOOK  CARDS — All  books  to  be  sent  to  school  and  community  [ 
j deposit  stations  require  two  book  cards,  one  for  the  charge  at  the  \ 
j central  library,  the  other  for  the  convenience  of  the  teacher  or  cus-  j 
| todian  when  charging  books  to  pupils  and  school  patrons  who  are  not  j 
! required  to  have  borrowers’  cards.  | 

Custodians  must  return  book  cards  in  book  pockets. 

Two  colors,  blue  and  yellow,  are  used  to  aid  the  eye  in  sorting 
jj  juvenile  from  adult  cards  for  circulation  statistics. 

CHARGING  BOOKS  FOR  COUNTY  USE  AT  THE 
j CENTRAL  LIBRARY 

In  charging  a book  to  be  sent  to  a county  collection,  the  book  j 
| card  to  be  kept  on  file  at  the  central  library  is  stamped  with  the  date  ] 
j due,  the  name  of  the  county  branch,  community  station  ©r  <district  = 
j number,  and  the  custodian’s  number.  ) 


6 


COUNTY  LIBRARY  EXTENSION 


DISCHARGING  BOOKS  AT  THE  CENTRAL  LIBRARY 

When  books  are  returned  from  the  county,  as  a collection  or  indi-  j 
i vidually,  the  book  cards  are  removed  from  the  central  library  “Sta-  j 
= tions  charging  file,”  and  put  in  the  book  pockets.  This  effects  the  2 
S cancellation  of  the  county  charge. 

When  the  books  are  at  the  central  library  both  book  cards  are  in  S 
I the  book  pocket. 

| When  the  books  are  returned  from  the  county  any  cards  remain-  I 

j ing  in  the  “Stations  charging  file”  belong  to  the  books  still  in  the  | 
| county.  Such  cards  become  “over  dues”  and  must  be  transferred  to  S 

1 the  overdue  file,  and  notice  given  by  telephone  or  by  post. 

( CHARGING  AT  BRANCHES  OR  STATIONS  j 

All  branches  need  a small  charging  tray,  date  guides  (1-31),  $ 
( and  a dating  outfit  consisting  of  a pencil  date-holder,  a box  of  rubber  l 

2 type  (or  a band  dater  if  preferred),  and  an  ink  pad.  Stations  and  ) 
j smaller  agencies  may  do  without  the  tray  and  even  without  the  dater,  I 
g using  a pencil  for  dating. 

When  a book  is  loaned,  the  name  of  the  borrower  (or  his  num-  j 
! ber)  is  written  on  the  book  card  and  the  date  due  stamped  (or  writ-  • 
I ten)  on  both  the  book  card  and  the  “Date  due”  slip  opposite  the  book  ! 
I pocket. 

( The  book  cards  (for  the  day’s  circulation)  are  counted,  then  9 

jj  alphabeted  and  filed  behind  the  date  due  guide  in  the  charging  tray,  j 
| When  the  book  is  returned,  the  book  card  is  taken  from  the  date  § 

1 due  file  and  put  back  in  the  book  pocket.  The  book  is  ready  then  to  | 
! be  loaned  again.  . 

At  branches  the  librarian  (or  custodian)  is  taught  to  file  the 

1 book  cards  in  the  library  way,  alphabetically  by  author,  back  of  ! 
j guides  for  the  date  due.  Station  custodians  should  be  systematic  so  | 

2 that  circulation  statistics  may  be  accurately  kept  and  books  dis-  | 
J charged  quickly. 

\ CIRCULATION  STATISTICS 

Branch  librarians  are  taught  to  keep  their  own  records  of  circu-  = 

1 lation  on  an  approved  statistical  form. 

j Custodians  of  stations  and  other  agencies  are  instructed  how  to  ! 

2 keep  simple  statistics,  but  if  it  is  neglected,  the  count  may  be  made  | 

j at  the  central  library  from  the  charges  shown  on  the  book  cards  which  j 
j are  returned  with  the  books.  j 

j TYPEWRITTEN  LISTS 

A typewritten  list  is  furnished  with  all  books  sent  to  a branch 
| or  station  and  a carbon  copy  is  kept  at  the  central  library. 

( The  typewritten  list  may  be  used  for  advertising,  and  as  a check-  | 

| ing  list  when  books  are  to  be  returned. 


MANUAL  OF  PRACTICE 


7 


REQUIREMENTS  FOR  STANDARD  BRANCH  LIBRARIES 

General  | 

1.  Library  to  be  opened  at  least  two  afternoons  a week  of  three  S 
| hours  each. 

2.  A library  sign  must  plainly  mark  each  branch.  Library  | 

| hours  to  be  printed  on  the  door.  | 

3.  Library  to  be  kept  attractive  at  all  times — clean,  dusted  and  j 
I neatly  arranged.  This  applies  to  tables,  book  shelves,  floors,  win-  j 
! dows,  curtains  and  lavatories.  Books  to  stand  upright  on  the  shelves  j 
I and  even  with  front  edge  of  shelves. 

4.  Library  building  or  room  to  be  well  lighted  and  heated  and  | 
1 accessible  to  all  the  public — children,  as  well  as  men  and  women. 

5.  There  must  be  adequate  means  of  taking  care  of  books — = 
| locking  up  safely  when  the  library  is  closed,  keeping  out  dust,  etc. 

6.  There  must  be  sufficient  and  proper  shelving  for  books  and  ! 

! magazines.  K 

COUNTY  LIBRARY  SERVICE. 

1.  Library  to  be  equipped  with  the  following,  which  will  be  j 
| furnished  by  the  Garfield  County  Library  Extension  Department.  | 

Circulating  books  equal  in  number  to  the  population.  (This  num-  j 
j ber  may  include  local  gifts  to  branches.) 

One  unabridged  dictionary. 

One  atlas.  1 

One  encyclopedia  (size  depending  on  size  of  branch).  | 

Other  reference  books  as  needed.  ( 

| One  A.  L.  A.  Book  list  subscription. 

| One  date  stamp,  ink  pad,  filing  box. 

Two  drawer  filing  case  for  card  catalogue,  indexing  all  books,  j 

Sufficient  supplies  on  hand — application  cards,  book  bards,  read-  S 
| ers’  cards,  cards  for  numberical  file,  slips,  etc.  (Custodian  to  report  I 
! to  central  library  when  in  need  of  supplies.) 

2.  It  is  provided  that  the  central  library  staff  will  consist  of  j 
| librarians,  college  and  library  school  trained,  and  with  previous  i 
| library  experience.  This  will  insure  careful  book  selection,  prepara-  i 
! tion  of  books  for  easy  circulation  from  the  branches,  business-like  ! 
j administration  and  supervision  of  all  work  of  the  county  extension. 

i 3.  Shipments  of  books  to  all  branches  will  be  made  every  fall  in  ! 

| preparation  for  winter  reading,  and  smaller  shipments  each  month  ! 
| as  needed.  (July  and  August  excepted.)  | 

4.  Transportation  furnished  by  the  County  Extension  Depart-  j 

| ment.  j 

5.  Housing,  heat,  light  and  upkeep,  library  furniture  and  cus-  j 
! todian  to  be  furnished  by  the  towns  and  communities  where  branch  j 
I libraries  are  located. 

S I 


8 


COUNTY  LIBRARY  EXTENSION 


Branch  Library  Board  l 

1.  Library  board  to  meet  monthly  and  to  keep  in  close  touch  | 

with  the  work  of  the  local  branch  in  comparison  with  that  of  other  £ 
I 5 

! branches.  (Watch  Enid  papers  for  County  Extension  monthly  re-  i 

! port.)  ; 

| 2.  Minutes  of  meeting  to  be  kept  in  official  form.  Suitable  by-  ! 

{ laws  adopted. 

3.  Budget  to  be  adopted  at  the  annual  meeting.  Account  of  | 
| receipts  and  expenditures  to  be  kept  on  blank  furnished  by  the  central  | 
i library  called  “Estimated  budget  and  expense  account.” 

4.  At  least  one  joint  meeting  of  library  boards  of  county  to  be  j 

! held  each  year,  and  at  least  two  members  of  each  local  board  to  be  : 
| in  attendance.  \ 

Standards  for  Books 

1.  Local  book  funds  to  be  used  only  for  books  recommended  in  * 
j the  American  Library  Association  Book  List,  the  Oklahoma  Library  ! 
! Commission  Book  List,  the  County  Board  of  Examiners’  List,  Library  | 
! of  Congress,  1904  Catalog,  Children’s  Catalog  and  Supplements  and  | 
| the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Education  Reading  Courses.  | 

| 2.  Gifts  not  to  be  accepted  unless  of  the  highest  standards  as  j 

| determined  by  the  above.  Especially  must  the  standards  of  child-  j 
i ren’s  books  be  guarded  carefully. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  policy  of  the  board  not  to  buy  subscription  ! 

= sets  of  books  from  traveling  book  agents  without  first  discovering  ! 
! from  authoritative  sources  other  than  as  represented  by  the  agent  I 
I or  publisher,  the  true  value  and  lowest  cost  at  which  the  same  books  ( 
I may  be  purchased.  | 

j 4.  At  least  from  ten  to  fifty  dollars  annually,  according  to  size  j 

I of  branch,  to  be  used  for  periodical  subscriptions,  selection  to  be  g 
| made  from  the  magazines  indexed  in  the  Readers’  Guide.  This  is  = 
j one  of  the  most  desirable  ways  of  using  local  library  funds.  Another  S 
| desirable  way  is  in  buying  duplicate  copies  of  children’s  classics. 

BRANCH  CUSTODIAN  ] 

Custodian  to  be  high  school  graduate,  except  in  school  branches  j 
I junior  or  senior  standing  is  permissible.  Must  be  neat  in  appear-  j 
J ance  and  courteous  in  manner,  and  eager  to  serve  the  public  with  the  j 
| best  the  library  affords.  Attendance  required  at  annual  meeting  of  S 
i branch  custodians  to  be  held  in  central  library  building  in  October  I 
j (or  during  County  Fair). 

| DUTIES  ' 

1.  Monthly  reports  to  be  accurately  and  completely  filled  out  j 
! and  mailed  to  the  central  library  on  the  last  day  (or  last  library  g 
I day)  of  each  month. 

s 


9 


MANUAL  OF  PRACTICE 

Y>— o—o—o—o—o—o— »<>—»— ,>—»—<>— <>—<  > — <>— « —04. 

2.  To  be  familiar  with  library  tools  and  thoroughly  acquainted 

• with  the  “Manual  of  Practice/’  which  is  always  to  be  kept  on  hand  j 
! for  reference. 

’ 3.  To  be  responsible  for  library  housekeeping. 

- 4.  To  spend  any  time  not  actually  needed  for  routine  work,  in  I 

( getting  acquainted  with  the  books,  so  that  better  service  can  be  given  { 
| to  the  readers.  This  can  quickest  be  done  by  reading  prefaces  to  i 
j non-fiction  and  by  looking  over  the  chapter  headings.  The  custodian  j 
| while  on  duty  must  not  read  either  book  or  magazine  fiction;  noth-  l 
J ing  breaks  down  library  morale  more  surely. 

* 5.  All  shelves  to  be  read  at  least  once  each  week.  Fiction  to  ! 

| be  kept  in  alphabetical  order  by  author  and  class  books  in  class  num-  ! 
j ber  order.  Adult  and  children’s  book  shelves  to  be  kept  separate.  ( 
j 6.  Only  books  in  good  condition  to  be  circulated.  Custodian  is  ! 

j to  do  simple  mending  and  fasten  in  loose  leaves  before  issuing  books  ! 
| another  time.  Worn-out  books  to  be  laid  aside  and  returned  to  cen-  I 
= tral  library  in  next  shipment.  | 

WHAT  A COUNTY  LIBRARY  MEANS 

The  county  will  own  a collection  of  books  chosen  to  serve  all  the  j 
I people  and  all  the  interests  of  the  county.  These  books  will  be  divided  | 
j into  smaller  collections  and  so  distributed  that  every  individual  in 
§ the  county  will  have  easy  access  to  them.  Each  collection  will  be  ! 
| kept  fresh  by  constant  exchange  of  books. 

Instead  of  much  money  spent  to  small  purpose  for  books  by  a j 
number  of  communities  and  by  many  schools  and  individuals,  every  j 
! community,  organization,  school  and  individual  will  be  served  with  j 
| the  books  they  need  and  desire  from  the  county  collection. 

| The  constant  rotation  of  books  will  make  one  thousand  books  do  | 

| the  work  of  ten  thousand. 

The  county  will  have  a librarian  who  will  be  at  the  service  of  [ 
| every  individual  and  every  organization  in  the  county  to  see  that  they  I 
j ^re  provided  with  the  necessary  books  and  to  find  information  and  j 
j advice  for  them  on  any  problem  that  may  confront  them.  | 


i 


